A/N: Nope. Still not mine.

Adjournment

Chapter 18: Moving On…

Life was moving toward something that Bella liked to consider normal. The new normal. No more having one man schedule her day to day activities. No more being told how she could spend her days. Her days were filled with family, with learning new things, with helping her brother move past Jamison's tortures. Most importantly, her days were filled with Edward. They were an official couple, not needing to keep their relationship secret anymore.

Four months after the monster that had haunted everyone had been gunned down like the animal he was, things were good. Santiago had gone into what Carlisle called public hiding. Meaning that every business deal was above board. All of his known associates were upstanding citizens and no criminal activity of any kind could be traced back to Nathan Santiago. Jasper's source that had implicated Santiago in Senior's assassination had recanted his story and less than twelve hours later had been found dead of an apparent suicide inside his apartment.

On paper, all of Jamison's business holdings had been enveloped by another company that seemingly had no ties to Jamison or Santiago. There was even a trust that had been set up for Johnathan as well as Bella that had been willed to the two of them. Of course the trust listed her name as Angela Jamison. Bella had promptly declared that no such person existed and instructed the lawyer to turn in back over to the company that had taken over the rest of Jamison's holdings. Johnathan had done the same.

"How's John doing today?" Edward asked as he walked into the kitchen where Bella was packing a few bottles of water to go with the lunch she had packed for their date.

"Today is a good day. He's meeting with his therapist right now and he seems to be adjusting really well. I think Mom has a lot to do with that though."

Edward smiled at her casual mention of her mother. Esme and Carlisle had indeed become Mom and Dad in the past few weeks. Now that she was living with them in the home that always should have been hers, things were steadily improving. "I wanted to talk to him before we left, but I guess I'll catch him when I drop you off after our day together. Emmett and I set up an account for him with part of our inheritance from the sperm donor. We would have done it sooner but we figured it would be better to wait until he officially became a Masen."

"That was really sweet of the both of you. I appreciate the both of you being here for him. Especially after everything that he is going through."

"It's no big deal. Even though he didn't have the pleasure of growing up with us, he should still benefit from the family money. Still can't believe he wanted to take the Masen name. He could have changed it to anything."

"John wanted to distance himself from Jamison as much as I did. You dad may have been a subpar father, but taking the Masen name was more about moving on and becoming part of your family.

"Okay. Enough talk about brother s and fathers. Today is about the two of us." Edward took the bag that she had packed with the food and led her outside to his car. After opening her door and making sure she was buckled in, he shut the door and walked around to the driver's side.

"Do you think there will ever be a day when you let me drive my car?" Bella teased as he climbed in and pulled out of the circular drive.

"Nope, not a chance," he grinned. Her parents had purchased a vehicle for her as soon as she had transitioned into living with them. Of course there were agents that patrolled the property and another two agents assigned to be with her when she left the house for anything unless she was with Carlisle or one of the Masen brothers. It had been a compromise on Carlisle's part as a result of their first real disagreement. Her father had wanted agents with her at all times even if Edward and Emmett were present. She did a great job of calming him down and making him see that they didn't need more agents hovering when she and Rose had gone on their first double date with the guys.

"What's the matter Masen? Not secure enough in your masculinity to be seen in a girly car?" she laughed.

"My masculinity is just fine. But no guy wants to be seen riding around town in a cutesy SUV that is pearly blue or whatever color it's called. I told you to give the Viper a chance. Carlisle and Esme are just looking for ways to spoil you. I suggest that you let them."

"Whatever, car snob. You should buy one for John and then you would have a chance to drive it." Although she had totally been kidding, a brilliant smile broke out on his face like it was the best idea ever. "Not really, Edward. I was joking. No seventeen year old needs a car that cost almost a hundred grand."

"Hey, John is capable of picking out his own vehicle. No pressure from either one of us. Agreed?"

"Agreed, Now, where are we going?"

"You don't have to worry about that. Just sit back and relax. We will be taking a bit of a drive Miss Cullen."

The two of them fell into a comfortable silence until Bella noticed an intense frown cross his features. "What gives, Edward. You look angry again."

"Nothing, I told you no more discussion about fathers today and I mean it. You can just assume that any frown that appears is a momentary slip on my part. I will try to keep it to a minimum."

"I have a feeling that instead of going on a date, we should be going to a gym so you can work out your frustrations. Or maybe you need to be in therapy like John."

"Are you calling me crazy, woman?"

"All the time," She grinned.

"Thanks. You are such a supportive girlfriend."

"I try. Now, where are we going?" She tried again. The only answer she received was a hearty laugh as he turned up the stereo.

Carlisle

"You're sure this information is accurate?" Carlisle questioned as he paced in front of the monitors in the conference room.

"Yes, sir. The analysts have confirmed twice. Director Masen had direct knowledge of your daughter's kidnapping and he knew that Johnathan was his son. We also know that he was paying Jamison off every year to suppress that knowledge. Millions of dollars were paid to Jamison over the years. Masen also left a confession. He killed his wife and covered up the murder. She apparently found out about the kidnapping. However, there is no evidence that Director Masen was in any way connected to Santiago."

"Someone had to be pulling the strings. In spite of the evidence, Ed started out as a good man. I don't think he woke up one morning and decided that he wanted to kill the love of his life."

"Do you want us to keep digging?"

"We have to keep digging. I need to know if my family is safe." Carlisle was frustrated.

"Don't worry about a thing boss. We will keep going until we can find the connection."

Bella

Edward Masen had become many things to me over the past several months. He was my security blanket, my entertainment, my love, and the beginning of my new life. I loved to argue with him and I loved to make up with him. We were both learning to let go of the past. No, it wasn't easy but neither was holding onto the anger of the things that were stolen from both of us. My parents, my childhood, his mother, his brother, but now we had each other. The things we had now were priceless to both of us.

Today he had surprised me by taking me to the botanical gardens for a tour with a personal tour guide. From there we had a picnic in the park and after we spent the night at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The man was so sweet when he wanted to be. Of course, sweet wasn't what I needed from him all of the time. Thankfully our sweet date time turned into hot passionate naked adult fun night He was everything I never knew I needed in a man.

Things had been so peaceful since Jamison had died. I just wanted to hold onto this feeling of contentment forever. I think in the back of my mind, I knew something was coming for us again. I just hoped that when it came, my family would still be whole at the end.